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SuperStar Football Academy held a one-day development training for boys and girls aspiring to have a professional career in football. The training covered the basics of football skills, such as passing, dribbling, and shooting. The children were also trained on the codes and conduct of the game, such as the rules of the game and how to behave on and off the pitch. According to the trainer, Ibrahin Okon Koroma, understanding the codes and conduct of the game is critical to the development of the game. He added that if the children want to be successful, they should understand the rules and regulations of the game. The participants were deeply delighted with the training and promised to fully implement the knowledge gained during the course of the training. It is the sincere hope of Super Star Football Academy to transform the game in more ways than one.

The former staff of Radio Democracy 98.1 FM have issued a statement in response to the recent statement released by the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Julius Spencer. The statement addresses what they describe as the "partial and incomplete narrative" presented in the Chairman's statement, and provides further insight into the ongoing issues faced by the radio station. The former staff members express their gratitude for the public's interest and concern regarding the recent resignations and the appointment of a "consultant Station Manager." They assert that the challenges faced by Radio Democracy did not originate solely from these recent events, but rather have been accumulating over an extended period of time. They emphasize that the Board was well aware of these ongoing concerns. In the interest of promoting transparency and accountability, the former staff members challenge the Board to substantiate their claim that they were actively addressing the internal issues plaguing Radio Democracy prior to their departures. They urge the Board to provide evidence of the measures taken and the progress made in resolving these matters. This call for transparency aims to enable a more accurate understanding of the situation while allowing the public to evaluate the Board's efforts in addressing the challenges faced by the radio station. The former staff members accentuate that their intention is not to settle personal scores but rather to provide the much-needed clarity required to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the situation. They further highlight the significance of transparency and accountability in addressing the ongoing issues faced by Radio Democracy. As the public awaits a response from the Board, it remains to be seen how they will address the former staff members' call for transparency and substantiation of their claims. The outcome of this situation holds the potential to significantly impact the trust and confidence of Radio democracy listeners and stakeholders.

Three senior staff of Radio Democracy have resigned in the past week, citing the pursuit of new opportunities. Kadijah Bangura and Mabel Kabba both resigned on the same day, and Alex Lawrence Koroma resigned today 7th August and cited the same reason as his colleagues. Women's rights advocate Naasu Fofanah took to Facebook to criticize the board for being undemocratic. She called for the resignation of all board members and the immediate reorganization of the board. Human rights lawyer Agustine Sorie-Sengeh Marah questioned the circumstances that led to the resignation of the two women, which seemed to be due to exclusion and sidelining. He demanded that the board provide a proper explanation to dispel these notions. The board issued a statement saying that the resignations were not properly communicated to them and that the hiring of a consultant was for a transitional period, made necessary by the departure of long-serving station manager Asmaa James. The resignations of these three senior staff have raised concerns about the future of Radio Democracy. It remains to be seen how the board will address these concerns and ensure the continued success of the station.

Mogbwemo Queens, champions of the Female Premier league, have received an outpouring of support as they prepare to play their first match against Senegal today in the CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers. The team left on Friday and have been boosted by encouragement from several institutions and individuals, including the Bo Rangers Management, who donated $8,000 to the team ahead of their matches in Liberia. Mr. Babadi Kamara, the Executive Chairman of Bo Rangers, presented the donation on behalf of the management and pledged his personal and management’s support to the team. He said that the excellence of the female champions can further serve the interest of Sierra Leonean football enthusiasts locally and abroad. Another supporter is FC Kallon’s midfielder Binta Bah, who heaped praise on Mogbwemo Queens' preparations for the CAF Women's Champions League. Bah, who was pivotal in FC Kallon's formation in the inaugural Women's Premier League, is impressed by Mogbwemo Queens' Preparation ahead of qualifiers and hopes they make Sierra Leoneans proud and gain experience in the process. The Sierra Leone Football Association days ago also made a pledge of $5,000 to the Queens. The entire country is behind Mogbwemo Queens as they embark on this historic journey. Good luck!

Didi Abu’s contract as a coach at Howard Community College in Columbia, MD has been extended for two more years. He has been coaching at the college since 2021, and this is his third season. Under his coaching, the Howard Community College Dragons have become a perennial contender in the Maryland JUCO Men’s Soccer Conference. Abu expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to continue coaching at Howard Community College, and he is looking forward to helping the team achieve its goals in the upcoming seasons. Abu played for East End Lions and Sierra Fisheries in the mid-1980s. He is currently the Director for East End Lions grassroots football and an academy coach at the Thunder Soccer Association in Columbia, MD. Abu believes that supporting East End Lions Football Club grassroots development is a way to give back to the community and to help inspire the next generation of footballers. To this end, he has been collaborating with the Premier League Board by donating trophies and medals to the WPLB, which distributed them to Female Champions Mogbwemo Queens for claiming the inaugural edition of the Sierra Leone Female Premier League. Didi Abu has been providing coaching and mentorship to players in the Sierra Leone Premier League. He has also helped to organize training camps and tournaments for young players. Abu is a highly respected coach and mentor who is passionate about developing the game of soccer. His work with East End Lions Football Club and the Thunder Soccer Association has had a positive impact on the lives of many young people.

Sierra Leonean dancehall singer and rapper Linda Samai has been confirmed as the headliner for the 2023 All Works of Life (AWOL) awards in the United States. The eighth edition of the awards, which recognize prominent contributions from several sectors, will be held on September 2 at the Arundel Live Casino Ballroom. Samai, who is known by her stage name Star Zee, was selected as the spotlighting artist currently in Sierra Leone and she will be traveling for her performance in September. The awards ceremony will feature performances by Samai and other artists, as well as speeches from award winners and other dignitaries. It is expected to be a major event for the Sierra Leonean community in the United States. The AWOL awards were founded to celebrate the achievements of people from all works of life.

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has announced the completion of payment for Locality Electoral Education Committee members (LEECs)for services rendered for a thirty-five day period, across the country. According to credible sources of this platform, these members comprised town criers, women’s groups, people with disabilities(PWDs) and youth groups who were employed to roll out community sensitization on the electoral process relating to dates, centres and election related crimes. These messages were mostly prerecorded and disseminated to them but also included short points related to topics mentioned above. However, the commission has an outstanding payment to ninety-two thousand(92,000) station and center staff who worked during the elections. These were staff stationed across eleven thousand, eight hundred and thirty-two(11,832) polling stations.

Longtime station manager Asmaa James has announced her departure from Radio Democracy, where she has worked for over two decades. James said that her decision to leave is the start of a new journey on her chosen path, which will commence after the end of September, the date of her last day at Radio Democracy. James's resignation is a major event at Radio Democracy, which has been a leading voice for democracy and freedom of expression in Sierra Leone. It is unclear what the future holds for the station, but it is likely that it will face significant challenges in the coming months. James is the owner of Rise Radio, a media house that recently ended its test transmission phase. It is believed that her decision to leave Radio Democracy is related to her ownership of Rise Radio. James is a senior journalist who has made significant contributions to the media landscape in Sierra Leone. She is known for her commitment to her work and several contributions to advocacy on children’s and women rights. Her departure from Radio Democracy is a loss for the station and for the media community in Sierra Leone. It is unclear what James's plans are for the future. However, it is hoped that she will continue to significantly contribute to Sierra Leone.

Two senior female journalists have resigned from Radio Democracy, a leading radio station with a broadcast frequency of 98.1 FM. The resignations were made public yesterday in online publications of their resignation letters. The two journalists are Kadijah Bangura, who was the Head of News, and Mabel Kabba, who was the Deputy Station Manager. Both women had over a decade of experience in the media landscape. Both women quoted the opportunity to challenge themselves differently, as the reason for their resignations. According to a close source, the resignations are not unconnected to feelings of dictatorship, significant lack of professionalism and adherence to media ethics at the station. The source also said that another senior journalist, Alex Lawrence Koroma, is also on the verge of resigning. Others have also voiced their frustration and intention to follow suit, but no letters have been tendered yet. Long-time station manager Asmaa James has also announced that her over two-decade journey as a media practitioner has come to an end. According to her, this is the start of another journey on her chosen path, which will commence after the end of September, which has been stipulated as the end of her work with Radio Democracy. This decision is not unconnected to the fact that James is the owner of Rise Radio, a media house that recently ended its test transmission phase. The resignations of these senior journalists are a major blow to Radio Democracy, which has been a leading voice for democracy and freedom of expression in Sierra Leone. It is unclear what the future holds for the station, but it is likely that it will face significant challenges in the coming months.

Another one for the history books as Sierra Leone officially opened the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic, with the delivery of the Presidential address by His Excellency Julius Maada Bio. In the address, President Julius Maada Bio highlighted the commendable rise in women's representation in the recent elections. According to the President, the elections saw a remarkable 15% increase in the number of women elected as representatives. Currently, 30.4% of directly elected representatives in Sierra Leone's Parliament are women. This development marks a significant departure from the past, when women were often underestimated and their potential as policymakers and leaders overlooked. President Bio emphasized that women are not just women; they are an integral part of society, serving as the backbone and anchor of our families. Their presence in Parliament enriches the nation's fabric, infusing it with compassion, empathy, and resilience. Moreover, this historic achievement in women's representation heralds a new era for Sierra Leone's democracy. With no political party holding a two-thirds majority, constant engagement and collaboration will be imperative. This necessitates amplifying all voices, fostering a more harmonious, stable, and prosperous Sierra Leone. The opening of the Sixth Parliament of the Second Republic signifies a remarkable opportunity to showcase the maturity of Sierra Leone's democracy. As the nation moves forward, the increased presence of women in positions of power will undoubtedly contribute to a more vibrant political landscape. Many are wondering whether the participation of women will be in vain given the current political impasse between the ruling government and the opposition, who have resolved to abstain from all participation in governing activities.

The Sierra Leone Judo delegation returned triumphant from their training camp at the prestigious Olympic training center in Switzerland on Monday, July 31, 2023. The camp was designed to prepare the athletes for the Olympic Games, and it proved to be highly beneficial for the development of the sport in Sierra Leone. Led by Coach Harris Fridrick, the delegation consisted of two exceptional athletes, Francis Massaquoi and Mariama Koroma. The athletes learned a variety of new skills and techniques at the camp, and they also had the opportunity to compete against some of the best judokas in the world. The President of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE), Prince Sualley, congratulated the delegation on their performance and praised their commitment to representing Sierra Leone on the international stage. Both athletes expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the training camp, and they said that it had helped them to improve their judo to a new level. They are now confident that they can compete at the highest level, and they are excited to represent Sierra Leone at the Olympic Games. The success of the training camp is a testament to the commitment of the Sierra Leone Judo delegation and the continued support from various organizations, including the NOC-SL, Olympic Solidarity, and the International Judo Federation. As the athletes return home, they carry with them newfound confidence and skills that will undoubtedly elevate the standard of judo in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leonean basketball prodigy Sheriffa Rahman has credited her recent training in South Africa with Basketball Without Borders (BWB) for helping her to scale new heights in the sport. Rahman, 16, is one of the most promising young players in Sierra Leone. She has been playing basketball since she was 10 years old and has quickly risen through the ranks to become a member of the national team. Rahman's training with BWB was a valuable experience for her, as she learned new skills and techniques from some of the best coaches in the world. She also had the opportunity to meet and compete against other talented young players from around the world. Rahman is confident that the skills she learned at BWB will help her to achieve her goals in basketball, which include playing college basketball in the United States and eventually playing professionally. I am very grateful for the opportunity to train with Basketball Without Borders, it was a great experience, and I learned a lot. I am confident that the skills I learned will help me to achieve my goals in basketball. Rahman is an inspiration to young people in Sierra Leone, and she is proof that anything is possible if you work hard and never give up on your dreams.